I found The White Tiger to be a truly magnanimous novel. I’d never read a book about India by an Indian author. I love Ha Jin and Khaled Housseini, so this author’s style wasn’t too much of a jump for me.

The story starts out by introducing us to the main character and his quirky sense of purpose and self. He writes the Premier of China telling him how he has become a successful entrepeneur, offering to unfold his tale to him as a sign of goodwill. This strange narrative tool helps those unfamiliar with India to realize the differences between the two countries. It sets up a lot of comparison done in the book, and might even have a larger social message.

In the telling of Balram’s story, you come to care for this comical character. His perspective is saturated with witty and classic lines to make you want to keep reading. He tells how he strove to learn a new trade and break out of his caste of sweet makers. You follow his early days as an outcast during school to his subsequent days as a driver of a rich master. Of course this is where the real story begins.

Balram has the capacity to describe his world with a type of detached insight. He claims India is separate into light and darkness. The darkness is the lies, governmental deceit, and repressed nature of the poor country. He delights in showing how various bits of the darkness can take over the soul. He pointedly remarks on the dichotomy that presents itself everywhere in India, especially when he arrives in the city. The scenes in the novel actually take place largely at night, or in the darkness of a basement dwelling or otherwise gray and dark time. When Balram was a boy he had to break coal in front of a shop, so even though it was daytime in the telling, the black of the coal separates one’s mind from that reality.

The telling of the novel’s story happens through the letters to the Premier. Balram writes them in the evenings/late at night, under the sparkling light of chandeliers. It’s a message of his success and another reference to the light.

In the novel, you’ll uncover delights about Balram, but in the end you’ll likely discard him, knowing too much about his misdeeds.

Reading and Discussion

What did you think the juxtaposition of light and darkness meant?

Did you feel compassion for Balram at the end?

Would you consider this a realistic impression of India?

The White Tiger: A Novel by Aravind Adiga

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Many people may be wondering what good books there are on the Amazon Kindle. Does the library have spectactular new authors? Of course, you can see one of the best sellers in the gallery above –Khaled Housseini. The Kite Runner was the first novel I read on the Kindle and I must say I was not dissappointed in the least.

Khaled creates one of the most memorable stories I’ve read in a long time. It took me about four days to completely read through this book. I kept wanting to see what would be coming. I couldn’t put my Kindle down for nothing, not even to sleep.

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Khaled Housseini’s Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns on Amazon Kindle

Reading Hemingway on an Amazon Kindle should feel exactly like reading one of the old worn paperbacks on the shelf. With the innovative e-ink design of the Kindle you get exactly that type of feeling. You bet Hemingway himself would loved to have read books with the Kindle. The majority of his short stories and even his novels are currently available through the Amazon store. Why not try to find your favorite author on the Kindle?

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Hemingway Classics on the Amazon Kindle

I have always been an avid reader, writer, and gadget enthusiast. Amazon sunk their selling claws into my throat with their amazing visual representation of the Kindle. As YouTube has showed us, the next best thing to dancing around the world, is watching someone dance around the world. The video showcased just how cool the new device could be, with its fashionable wireless anywhere features, the crisp lettering of each page, the lightweight, portable carry-along library. What is not to love about this device?

I ordered mine on November 20th, and received it on the 7th of December 2007. I have officially read three novels on the e-reader. I have been nothing but happy with the results. I show it off to friends, as well as use it for work and during church. I hope to show you all the powers of this new device, as well as discuss some of my favorite literature that I’ve read on the device.

So if you can, leave me a comment so I know you care. I would like to build a community of readers, who want to talk about books and maybe even start a Kindle Book Club.

The Amazon Kindle ebook reader